Our first FOBISIA conference from February 1 - 4, 2024 was a resounding success. Ten of our students, accompanied by two teachers, set forth to Penang, Malaysia to join 400+ of their peers at the 2024 FOBISIA Student Leadership Conference hosted by Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS). The trip was packed with back-to-back events, leadership and mentorship opportunities, new friendships, a talent showcase and much more.

Arrival in Penang: An early morning start and a short flight later, we were in Penang. Energized by the beautiful backdrop of the Andaman Sea, the kids were more than ready to head to opening night. This was an informal mixer organized by POWIIS at a restaurant not far from our hotel. A musical evening and dinner allowed students to mingle and socialize with other delegates, which made them even more excited for Day 1 of the conference.

Conference Day 1: On the first official day of the conference, we made our way to POWIIS, where a full day of activities awaited us. Ms. Linda Cruse, founder and CEO of Race4Good was amongst the speakers that morning. Students were assigned into diverse teams with other FOBISIA students, where each group was tasked with creating a presentation. These presentations were centered on a Race 4 Good project based on climate change in the Arctic region. Guided by their mentors, students showcased a range of skills such as budgeting, marketing, branding, leadership, and more. These were then presented to Ms. Cruse who works closely with people affected by these events. A long day’s hard work paid off, as our students did some of their best work and created some outstanding presentations.

Conference Day 2: Another exciting day which started with a delicious (and very early!) breakfast at our hotel. We then made our way to POWIIS again, where students attended several interactive sessions led by inspiring youth leaders from around the world including Balinese climate activist Melati Wijsen, Malaysian speaker and entrepreneur Michael Teoh, and Malaysian social rights advocate Heidy Quah. Following these inspirational sessions, our day took an even more meaningful turn as we headed to the beach to participate in a clean-up activity as part of community service. This was followed by a quick pit stop at the hotel to get dressed for the gala. The evening was a great success - lots of pictures, lots of laughs and joining their new friends on stage to showcase their singing and musical chops. An exhausting but thoroughly enjoyable day!

Conference Day 3: Last day in Penang

This was the last day of our conference (and the trip). Even though we left for the airport at midday, students got the chance to attend some more workshops, including beatboxing and public speaking. Our thanks to POWIIS for hosting us and to all the amazing youth leaders who shared their insights. If this conference is anything to go by, our students are sure to have many more exciting opportunities yet to come.

We're thrilled to share that our students embarked on an exciting journey learning about NASA's latest advancements in space exploration! During the second session by HASSE (Houston Association for Space and Science Education) and NASA on February 27th, our students delved into the innovative Commercial Crew Program, a pivotal initiative that employs commercial spaceflight services to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The program involves two major contractors: SpaceX and Boeing. SpaceX's contribution is the revolutionary Crew Dragon spacecraft, while Boeing has developed the CST-100 Starliner. These modern vehicles are launched into space by powerful rockets, marking a new era in space travel.

Our students also learned about NASA’s upcoming programs, including the first human mission to Mars as well as all the training that astronauts undergo for these missions. Despite the involvement of private companies in constructing the spacecraft, the astronauts are still required to complete NASA's stringent training program. The launch suits were particularly interesting. These are custom-tailored suits that provide their own pressurized environment. The suits are used for communication and are dully equipped with a cooling system, a 3D oriented helmet, touchscreen compatible gloves and hearing protection for ascent and reentry.

Another particularly interesting aspect of the session was learning about Orion and the Space Launch System (SLS). Orion is NASA's new spacecraft, built to take humans farther into space than they've ever gone before. It will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew and provide a safe return to Earth. SLS is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle that is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and cargo directly to the Moon on a single mission.

Our students were fascinated with all the information and wanted to learn all about NASA’s budget, the rockets’ capabilities, the Hubble constant and much more. Stay tuned for more updates on our space exploration journey!

We celebrated Chinese New Year on Monday, the 12th of February. It was a day filled with vibrant performances and engaging workshops, bringing the spirit of the Lunar New Year to our school community.

The celebration commenced with a Lion dance performance that captivated everyone's attention. Following the performance, students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops, each offering a unique glimpse into Chinese culture and traditions.

Here are the workshops that our students enjoyed:

• Chinese Number Bingo: A fun and interactive way to learn Chinese numbers while playing a classic game.

• Pitch-pot Game (投壶): Students tried their hand at this traditional Chinese game, testing their accuracy and skill.

• Blow Painting Art: Creative minds were unleashed as students experimented with blow painting techniques to create stunning artworks.

• Chinese Knot (中国结): Participants learned the intricate art of Chinese knot tying, symbolizing luck, prosperity, and longevity.

• Chinese Woodblock Printing (印刷术): Students delved into the ancient art of woodblock printing, creating their own unique designs.

• Chinese Sugar Painting (糖画): Sweet treats met artistic expression as students crafted beautiful images using colored sugar.

We extend our warmest wishes for the Year of the Dragon to everyone in our school community! May this new lunar cycle bring joy, prosperity, and good fortune to all.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our Chinese New Year celebration a memorable and enriching experience for our students.

On the 5th of February, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Year 6 parents to our secondary school! It was a fantastic opportunity for them to get a glimpse into the wonderful journey awaiting their children as they transition to the next phase of their education.

Led by our Head of Secondary, Mr. De Smet, the parents were warmly greeted and given a comprehensive school tour. They had the chance to explore our facilities and witness firsthand the vibrant learning environment we offer.

Additionally, our dedicated Year 7 teachers were introduced, providing valuable insights into the academic journey ahead. Parents were enlightened with a detailed presentation about the secondary school curriculum, including the exciting subjects offered in Year 7, how we prepare students for the challenging IGCSE courses in Years 10 and 11, as well as the extensive SEN and EAL support available to ensure every child thrives.

It was truly an informative and engaging session, strengthening the bond between our school and our supportive parent community. We're thrilled to embark on this journey with our Year 6 students and their families!

On Wednesday the 7th of February, our Year 9 form group embarked on a meaningful journey to Bangkok Community Help. Our mission was clear: to contribute our time and effort to prepare and package food for those in need. As we entered the premises, a sense of purpose enveloped us, knowing that our actions would make a tangible difference in the lives of others. Working side by side, we immersed ourselves in the tasks at hand, sorting, packing, and organizing provisions with diligence and care. Each item we handled carried the potential to alleviate hunger and bring comfort and happiness to individuals facing adversity.

When RBIS Primary campus installed new playground equipment it was decided to donate the previous playground apparatus to a school in need.  The school we decided to help was  Wat Tha Chumnum School in Ang Thong. Below you will see the the departure of the equipment from RBIS and its arrival at  Wat Tha Chumnum School. The equipment was  soon  set up for the children to play on.  Our 6th Form students were asked if they would like to visit the school to meet the children and their teachers. Look through the photos of their day at the school below.

Our 6th Form visited Wat Tha Chumnum School in Ang Thong on Friday 16th February. It was a 2 hour journey to Ang Thong  and when we arrived we were warmly met by the director,  Ms Montha Jittachuen, and teachers of the school. After a snack we were introduced to the children of the school as we visited their classrooms. Although the children were shy some of them enjoyed speaking to our 6th formers. We had planned to play some English games and also have an art activity with Year 7 and Year 8.  Mariha led the Art activity and all the children soon engaged in creating  an interesting and colorful pieces of art work. Awei, Mei,  Hans and Jericho led the English activities which the children thoroughly enjoyed and surprised our 6th formers with their English language skills.  With out a doubt the most enjoyed activity was 'Simon says'  with lots of laughter when the children were caught out. 

After the games we moved across to the playground and watched as some of the younger children were enjoying their lunch break playing on the slides.  They obviously liked their new play area and we were told that on Saturdays children from other schools nearby often turn up to play. Lunch followed and a short meeting with the director and teachers followed. We discussed about ways in which we could help the school in the next academic year including English Camps and some projects around the school that require attention. The Director hanked us for the play equipment and for visiting the school.  It had been an enjoyable day and our thanks to Mei, Mariha,  Awei, Hans and Jericho  for making such  a wonderful time for the children of Wat Tha Chumnum School.

Year 10 IGCSE Art

4 houses

The RBIS Houses are designed to embody the values and ethos of our school and are an integral part of our school community.

Our Houses' main aim is to provide every student in each house with a sense of belonging within the school community, opportunities to develop social, intellectual, physical and practical skills, a sense of achievement both inside and outside of the classroom including through the fun and excitement of inter-house competitions.

Students are assigned to one of our four Houses when they join the EY, Primary or Secondary sections of the school; entering a system which is designed to develop an awareness of individual and collective responsibility and opportunities for student leadership. Each house has two designated elected House Captains  (Primary and Secondary) who will act as representatives for all the students in their house throughout the year by: helping coordinate house teams, organise activities and events and represent their house at relevant meetings.

Thus far, the league has been ablaze with excitement, witnessing Win of House Dragon effortlessly netting a hat-trick in every game, consistently shattering previous records. As it stands, the only conceivable scenario for Dragon to lose the league title is if they falter in their final game against house Unicorn and Lion secures victory with a substantial goal difference. Anticipation mounts as the top two teams gear up to clash in the cup final, while the league champions eagerly await their match against the esteemed teacher's all-star team. 

In a thrilling table tennis match between House Dragon and House Phoenix, it seemed victory was within the grasp of House Dragon's champion, Win. With each volley and exchange, the match remained neck and neck, creating an atmosphere of intense anticipation. However, just when victory seemed certain for Win, Sinchan from House Phoenix executed a remarkable comeback. With skillful precision and determination, Sinchan turned the tide of the game, surprising everyone with a sudden reversal of fortune. In the end, against all odds, Sinchan emerged victorious, securing a memorable win for House Phoenix in what was initially a closely contested match.

Round Square IDEALS have a special place at RBIS - our students are proud Round Square ambassadors and so we are working to create IDEALS display boards around the secondary campus. The task was split up by year group, with Year 7 tackling internationalism, Year 8 & 9 working on democracy and environmentalism, Year 10 dealing with adventure, Year 11 working on Leadership and sixth form taking on service. These display boards will be placed around school to showcase our students amazing work. Here is a sample of displays created so far.

Model United Nations (MUN) club

RBIS Secondary is proud to announce the establishment of the Model United Nations Club, led by Ms. Reid. This exciting club meets every Monday from 12:45 pm to 1:15 pm, providing students with a unique opportunity to engage in simulated debates and discussions on global issues.

Participation in the Model United Nations Club offers numerous benefits for students. Firstly, it fosters the development of critical thinking and analytical skills as students delve into complex international issues and propose solutions. Through engaging in debates and negotiations, students learn to articulate their ideas effectively and consider diverse perspectives.

Furthermore, the club promotes teamwork and collaboration as students work together to research, prepare speeches, and draft resolutions. These collaborative efforts not only enhance students' communication skills but also foster a sense of camaraderie and community among participants.

Participating in the Model United Nations Club also cultivates global awareness and citizenship. By examining real-world issues and representing different countries, students gain a deeper understanding of global affairs and develop empathy for people from diverse backgrounds. This experience empowers students to become informed and active global citizens, capable of making positive contributions to society.